Lankan troops close in on rebel capital, 15 killed

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COLOMBO, Sept 26 (AFP): Sri Lankan troops have engaged Tamil Tiger forces on the outskirts of the northern rebel capital Kilinochchi, killing at least 13, the defence ministry said Friday.
The government, which pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in January, wants to capture the town and deal what would be a major military and psychological blow to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Thursday's fighting left at least 13 Tamil Tiger soldiers dead, with two killed on the government side, the ministry said in a statement.